The Supreme Court (SC) took notice on Saturday of the police raid on the residence of PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, who was absent as he attended the apex court’s hearing on the ECP’s petition against the restoration of the party’s electoral symbol.
Upon learning about the raid, the three-member bench summoned the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad to provide details about the incident. The IG informed the court that the police were searching for ‘absconding’ individuals, clarifying that officials from the Kohsar police station conducted the raid. He assured the court that he would obtain comprehensive information from them and report back.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa emphasized the protection of every citizen and instructed the IG to visit the PTI chairman’s residence promptly, emphasizing the importance of providing full details to the SC.
Earlier in the day, a police team visited Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s residence while he was attending court proceedings. Informed about the incident, Barrister Ali Zafar, another key lawyer of PTI, acknowledged the challenging time for the party and advised the PTI chairman to take leave from court proceedings.
During the live hearing, the PTI chairman apprised CJP Isa of the incident, claiming that his son and nephew had been “tortured,” and items such as a computer and documents were taken. Subsequently, Gohar left the ongoing hearing and reportedly returned home.
Contrary to Gohar’s statement, the IG of Islamabad stated that they were unaware the house belonged to Gohar. He clarified that nothing was taken from the residence, and no damage occurred during the police team’s visit, expressing the commitment to address any complaints raised by Barrister Gohar.
CJP Isa also directed the additional attorney general to investigate the matter, expressing disapproval by stating, “What has happened should not have happened.”